Vision 2030Mayor Andy Schor’s vision
for Lansing’s future

will become its best self

welcoming

Lansing will be its best self: a diverse, dense, livable, responsible and
welcoming environment.

Our city will offer the amenities and necessities needed
to retain and sustain residents through all stages of life: children as they
grow; young people starting careers; families putting down roots;
established professionals looking to expand their businesses; and retirees.
We sustain this by improving and providing necessities—roads, sidewalks,
housing, parks and public safety. And we embrace our differentiating
qualities—city design, culture, community and livability.

Not only do people commute to and visit the Capital City; they are eager
to live here and become involved in the community. Lansing cultivates a
sense of city pride among its residents, which draws new residents to the
area and convinces those who have left Lansing to return. The city
recognizes its individualistic reputation—self-assured, confident and
proud—as well as the fact that it is the cultural and economic engine of our
region.

How will we get there?

By focusingon three mainareas of action:

Community

We will leverage Lansing's existing diversity and employment
opportunities to represent our city as an ideal place to live and
thrive.

Celebrate and support Lansing as an inclusive community. As the fifth
most racially diverse city in Michigan, Lansing’s multiculturalism is an
asset that motivates individuals to live here and send their children to
school here.

Draw attention to Lansing's cultural diversity by supporting local
nonprofits that create spaces for people of all backgrounds and identities.
With foreign-born residents making up 7.4 percent of the community, Lansing
is a place where we can all learn from one another.

Generate a community-wide commitment to the improvement and progress of
Lansing Public Schools, whether residents have a child attending the schools
or not. Residents will comprehend the long-term returns of a quality school
system for retaining growing families and improving the local economy. We
will position the schools' various types of diversity as an invaluable
asset. In turn, investing in adequate educational resources can help raise
the median household income so it is at or above the state average (at least
$50,803, up from Lansing's $34,833).

Provide and retain a variety of fulfilling employment options across
industries. Leverage existing career options in governance, manufacturing,
insurance, information technology, healthcare and the rich variety of
industries that attract new employers to create wealth in the area.

Draw individuals from outside areas to live here by providing a vibrant
arts and culture scene, weekend activities and night-life options, while
leveraging Lansing's affordability.

Design

We will improve the city's public spaces—from roads to art—ensuring
a welcoming environment.

Prioritize the city's visual infrastructure. This includes investing in
public art, parks and gardens, Lansing-branded signage or other assets that
simply improve the city's welcoming nature.

Improve walkability by ensuring sidewalk infrastructure can get residents
from their living spaces to nearby business districts, schools and
parks.

Continue decreasing Lansing’s commercial and residential vacancy rates,
for which there is already progress underway. While Lansing's residential
vacancy rate (12.2 percent) is lower than the statewide average (15.1
percent), we will continue to reduce this to under 7 percent.

Combine public and private support for arts within the city through
partnerships with arts groups and targeted arts funds.

Improve and maintain the visual and functional appeal of roads and
buildings, especially in high-traffic areas.

Increase emphasis on sustainability and health efforts. Building on the
foresight of the combined sewer overflow project, continue refining our
recycling, anti-pollution and environmental stewardship efforts. Prioritize
fresh water and habitat preservation and address public health risks.

Living

We will diversify housing options to meet residents'
changing needs—providing a variety of rentals, condominiums, historic housing
and larger homes.

Cultivate real estate options with wider price ranges, increasing the
median home value from $89,000 to $100,000. Lansing will offer a variety of
housing options for all who want to live here—homes that college graduates
and lower-income residents can attain; homes for growing families that need
more space inside and outside; rentals for those who can afford less and
rentals for those who can afford more; and condominiums in commercial
areas.

Provide available workforce housing for young professionals starting
their careers who will create wealth in the area, and ensure available and
attainable housing for those who are lower-income earners or are unable to
work.

Relentlessly improve and upgrade properties that are substandard to
ensure that every home is safe for our families.

Emphasize unity across neighborhoods. In addition to having neighborhood
pride, residents will have Lansing pride. This requires visual consistency
and ample housing options across all neighborhoods.